West Ham moved into the top four of the Premier League after holding on for a nervy 3-2 victory against Wolves at Molineux.
With plenty of the sides around them dropping points this weekend, it felt like a real opportunity for David Moyes’ side as they look to secure European football for next season.
And it looked like one they would take as goals from Jesse Lingard (6), Pablo Fornals (14) and substitute Jarrod Bowen (38) saw them race into a three-goal lead inside the first 38 minutes.
However, Wolves grabbed a lifeline just before the break through Leander Dendoncker’s header (44) before substitute Fabio Silva’s smart finish set up another nervy finish for West Ham, who squandered a three-goal lead to draw 3-3 with Arsenal before the international break.
On this occasion, Moyes’ men held on for what could be a crucial three points in the race for the Champions League places.
Victory sees the Hammers jump above Liverpool, Tottenham and Chelsea into fourth on 52 points, four points behind third-placed Leicester with eight games remaining. Meanwhile, Wolves stay 14th after a 13th defeat of the season.
How West Ham held off Wolves’ fightback…
West Ham raced out of the blocks as in-form Lingard opened the scoring in stunning style after six minutes.
Collecting the ball 10 yards inside his own half, he powered towards goal, breezing past Romain Saiss before producing an ice-cool finish to beat the onrushing Rui Patricio.
The Hammers extended their advantage eight minutes later and Lingard was heavily involved again. The England international brilliantly kept the ball in play, knocking it around Nelson Semedo, Arthur Masuaku crossed for Fornals to steer home into the bottom corner.
West Ham were dealt a blow just after the half-hour mark when Michail Antonio, who had run the Wolves defence ragged alongside Lingard, was forced off through injury. However, it didn’t knock Moyes’ side off their stride as Bowen – who had only been on the pitch two minutes after replacing Antonio – made it 3-0 seven minutes before half-time after another swift counter-attack from Lingard.
For the second Premier League game in a row West Ham had a three-goal advantage in the first half, but just as against Arsenal, they conceded just before the break. Adama Traore went on a blistering run down the left before standing the ball up for Dendoncker, whose header gave the hosts a lifeline.
Wolves threw on Silva at the break in place of Daniel Podence as they tried to claw their way back into the game further, but it was West Ham who thought they had extended their lead just before the hour mark.
Patricio could only palm Bowen’s powerful shot into the path of Tomas Soucek, and the Czech midfielder turned the ball into the back of the net but only after bringing it under control with his left arm, which was correctly spotted by referee Michael Oliver.
The West Ham nerves were jangling once again with 22 minutes remaining as Silva, who was played in by Pedro Neto’s inch-perfect through ball, struck past Lukasz Fabianski and into the far corner.
But this time around, the Hammers made sure the comeback was not completed as they held off Wolves’ fightback to claim what could be a crucial win.
What’s next?
West Ham host Leicester City at the London Stadium in a crucial Super Sunday clash, live on Sky Sports Premier League (2.05pm kick off). Meanwhile, Wolves travel to Fulham next Friday (8pm kick off).
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